Arras and Vimy Ridge

The Great War 1914-18

By April 1917, on the Western Front, the Allied and German armies were locked in stalement, occupying trench systems stretching 440 miles from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border. The town of Arras, occupied by the British but virtually destroyed by German artillery, was to be the launching point for a major attack which would divert German forces away from a larger French offensive on the Aisne.

In a preparatory five day bombardment, 2,400 British guns fired 2.7 million shells on a 20-mile front. Then on 9th April 1917, Easter Day, the assault began, in a snowstorm. Initially, major territorial gains were made, the British accomplished the longest advance since trench warfare had started, however rapid deployment of German reserves checked the advance and as British losses increased to around 158,000, the offensive was ceased on 16th May 1917.

Vimy Ridge stands on Hill 145, the highest point of the 14 km long Vimy Ridge. In the First World War, the Ridge was a highly significant part of the German defence system and now site of perhaps the most striking memorial on the Western Front. The monument took eleven years to build and rests on a bed of 11,000 tonnes of concrete, reinforced with hundreds of tons of steel. Carved onto the walls of the monument are the names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who were killed in France and whose final resting place is unknown.

Located 20 metres below the pavements of Arras lies Wellington Quarry preserving the memory of thousands of soldiers quartered underground just a few metres from the front, before they were launched onto the battlefield. In November 1916, the British started preparing for the 1917 spring offensive and New Zealand tunnellers connected up the town's chalk extraction tunnels to create a real network of underground barracks large enough to accommodate 24,000 soldiers.

Take a tour below and above ground for a real feel for this offensive, the tactics and the very costly limited success.

Sample Itinerary - 2 Days

Below is a sample itinerary for a 2 day tour, all tours are personalised and once your tour is booked your expert guide will get in touch to start working with you to produce your bespoke tour.

Day 1 - Depart from your chosen pick up point and head to Dover or Folkestone for your crossing, on arrival in France we make our way to The Wellington Quarry which is located 20 metres below the pavements of Arras where in November 1916, the British started preparing for the 1917 spring offensive. Commonwealth tunnellers connected up the town's chalk extraction tunnels to create a real network of underground barracks large enough to accommodate 24,000 soldiers, before they launched themselves onto the field of battle on 9th April 1917. We then spend time visiting the battlefields around Arras before paying our respects at the Arras CWGC Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing.

Day 2 - This morning we will visit Vimy Ridge, which stands on Hill 145, the highest point of the 14 km long Vimy Ridge. At daybreak on the 9th April 1917, all four divisions of the Canadian Corps stormed the Ridge, with over 3,500 Canadians giving their lives. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, took 11 years to build and is breathtaking offering stunning views of the surrounding area. Everywhere you look the ground shows the scars of the battle, we will also visit the visitors centre, preserved trenches and take a guided visit of the underground tunnels. From here we will visit The French National Memorial and Cemetery of Notre Dame de Lorette, where over 40,000 casualties are buried. Visit the chapel and also pay a visit to the “Ring of Remembrance” which lies just across the road, it contains the names of 580,000 men including French, German and Commonwealth, who died in Northern France during the Great War.

All our tours and itineraries are bespoke and put together to match your requirements, please get in touch to discuss your tour.

Hull to Zeebrugge ferry route is also available on this programme at an additional cost.

What's Included

Full services of an executive coach for the duration of your Battlefield Tour

Pick up and drop off from your chosen location

Return Channel crossings

One or two nights bed and breakfast accommodation (two and three day tours only)

Full Services of an expert Battlefield Guide - including personalised itinerary

Not included

Battlefield Tour Prices

Length of Trip

Price

Day Trip

from £75pp

2 days

from £129pp

3 days

from £179pp

Other durations

on request

Pricing shown are based on 45 passengers travelling, prices may vary dependant on group size, standard of accommodation booked, what you would like including in your package and the time of year that you travel.

Contact Us

Battlefield Tours

CGT Battlefields is a specialist tour operator, our tours cover World War I and World War II battlefields across Europe
providing inspirational tours to the sites of The Great War and Second World War.

Visiting the battlefields from any conflict, is a truly captivating and moving experience, though some of the battlefields are nearly 100 years old, the soldiers who fought here had similar backgrounds, dreams and hopes as many of us. A Battlefield Tour allows you to understand these events, remember the sacrifices made and recognise how these shaped the world we see today.

World War 1 and World War 2 Battlefield Tours and Holidays for Groups

CGT Battlefield Tours, a specialist group travel operator, providing guided inspirational tours to the sites of World War I and II in Belgium, France and Holland.

We're a specialist group travel operator, we use only the very best coaches on its holidays. Travel you can Trust. Contact us for details

Contact CGT Battlefield Tours, a specialist group travel operator, providing inspirational tours to the battlefield sites of World War I and II.

Run a War gaming Club, or other Social Group / Association? CGT Battlefield Tours can provide an informative, inspirational, tours to the sites of World War I and II.

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World War 2 Battlefield Tour

"The tour was great and the guide was excellent. I had no problems at any stage, the coach company was excellent and helpful as were the staff at the hotel so I really can't fault it. Your own organisation was also faultless and hassle free. I will certainly pass on your details to friends at other establishments"

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World War 2 Battlefield Tour

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World War 1 Battlefield Tour

"Zoi and her team were extremely helpful with the booking of hotels and transport. Their very helpful and experienced staff minimalized the hassle, particularly when we made last minute changes. I would be very happy to deal with the company again"

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World War 1 Battlefield Tour

"From the outset all of my cares and concerns were taken care of. In all we had a fantastic three days and ultimately this must be down to Zoi Pearce and the team"